Jalpaiguri: An adult female elephant died of electrocution in Buxa Tiger Reserve forest (BTR) on Monday morning. The incident occurred in the Bijoypur area in Alipurduar's Kalchini block.
The pachyderm died after coming into contact with live electric wires while trying to enter a betelnut plantation.
The forest department arrested one Kalu Sonar, the owner of the betelnut plantation. Sonar allegedly tapped power from a high voltage line and laid a trap to prevent elephants from entering his plantation. The jumbo died instantly once it touched the open wires.
"Sonar will be prosecuted as per the laws. We have already registered a case against him," said Apurba Sen, field director of BTR.
Around 40 elephants have died of electrocution in the Dooars and Terai regions over the past decade in the state.
Tapping power from high tension wires and laying electric traps for elephants is a common practice in this part of the state. People living in the forest villages and in the fringe areas do this to stop elephants from entering their habitats and paddy fields, especially during the time of harvesting.